David Letterman delivers heartfelt speech as he inducts Pearl Jam into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Barclays

Sporting a massive white beard, David Letterman, 69, devoted much of his speech to praising the band that made seven appearances on his late-night show and features his good friend, lead singer Eddie Vedder.

The late-night legend — who has largely disappeared from the public eye since retiring from "The Late Show" in 2015 — earned cheers and laughs as he inducted the legendary rockers from Seattle into the Hall in what was a rare public appearance for the longtime comedian.

"I can't begin to tell you what an honor and privilege it is for me to be out of the house," he deadpanned after a nearly minute-long ovation from the audience at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Sporting a massive white beard, Letterman, 69, devoted much of his speech to praising the band that made seven appearances on his late-night show and features his good friend, lead singer Eddie Vedder.

Eddie Vedder shared similar praise for Letterman when he gave his acceptance speech.

(LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS)

"These guys in Pearl Jam were something more than a band. A true living cultural organism," Letterman said. "They would recognize injustice, and they would stand up (to) it. Whether it was human rights. Whether it was environment. Whether it was poverty. They didn't let it wash over them. They would stand up and react."

Letterman told a particularly heart-warming story about when Vedder gave his son a guitar and encouraged him to learn to play music with a hand-written note, which the comedian read onstage.

Letterman inducts Pearl Jam into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

(LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS)

"I wanted you to have this small guitar to start with. Try it out, make some noise," Vedder's letter read. "I'll make you a deal. If you learn even one song on this guitar, I'll get you a nicer, bigger one for your birthday."

Vedder shared similar praise for Letterman when he gave his acceptance speech, telling the crowd he long considered the CBS comic to be his "co-pilot" early in his career he was working the overnight shift as a security guard. At that time, he turned to Letterman's TV show to help him get through the night.

Letterman shared the story of Vedder giving his son a guitar and encouraging him to play music during his speech.

(Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Letterman was named a last-minute fill-in as Pearl Jam's inductor this week after Neil Young fell ill and had to back out of the show.

Letterman addressed the rocker's absence by jokingly speculating why he couldn't make it to the ceremony.

Yes was inducted earlier in the night.

(LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS)

"I know Neil Young was supposed to be here, and people are saying to me like I had something to do with it. 'Why isn't Neil Young here?' The truth of it is, the poor guy just can't stay up this late. That's what I heard," Letterman quipped. "It was either that, or he swallowed a harmonica. I'm not sure."

Pearl Jam was the final act to be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Friday, following up fellow honorees Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Baez, Yes, Tupac Shakur and Journey.

Electric Night Orchestra was also inducted during the Brooklyn ceremony.

(LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS)

The band — and particularly Vedder — drew some of the loudest applause of the night when their time finally came. In addition to praising Letterman, Vedder thanked their many fans for all of their support.

"It was you that galvanized us and forged a brotherhood and a family," Vedder said. "I love these people so much, and we love hanging out, and we love touring and we love playing. We love writing, we love recording. I feel maybe we're halfway there to deserving an accolade of this kind of stature … We're very grateful."